Trump Stokes Chaos in Congress as He Huddles With the G.O.P.
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-06-24 16:07:00 — www.nytimes.com
President Trump Throws Congress Into Turmoil, Demands Voting Restrictions and Attacks GOP Senators
President Trump plunged Congress into chaos on Wednesday by abruptly canceling the signing of a bipartisan housing measure and issuing new demands that Republicans pass sweeping voting restrictions, despite repeated warnings from party leaders that the votes do not exist to do so.
Trump’s surprise move came just hours before a tense closed-door meeting with Senate Republicans. He blindsided allies by refusing to sign the housing bill—intended to address high costs for Americans and project Republican unity ahead of the midterm elections—even as preparations for the signing ceremony were underway in the Capitol. In a social media post, Trump dismissed the bill as “of minor importance,” emboldening right-wing House members who then stalled the Republican agenda in protest over the Senate’s failure to advance his preferred voting legislation.
Trump’s actions further deepened weeks of turmoil and exposed bitter divisions between the president and key Senate Republicans, especially Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota. Trump has been feuding with Thune over the filibuster, repeatedly urging him to eliminate it and to “get the bad Republicans to approve” his voting bill, known as the SAVE America Act. Thune and other GOP leaders have consistently stated there is not enough support to pass the measure, a reality confirmed by multiple test votes.
Inside the Capitol, Trump’s arrival did little to calm tensions. He ignored questions about his relationship with Thune, instead telling reporters the war in Iran was “going very well” and attacking Democrats for “pushing communists” as candidates. Behind closed doors, Trump reportedly launched into an angry tirade over a Senate vote challenging his authority on Iran, personally attacking Republican senators who opposed him. He referred to Senator Bill Cassidy as a “loser” and made similar disparaging remarks about Lisa Murkowski and Mitch McConnell.
Participants in the meeting described little substantive policy discussion, with Trump instead reiterating demands to gut the filibuster, eliminate Senate “blue slips,” and expressing grievances about his own indictment. The session, according to those present, was dominated by Trump’s personal attacks and complaints rather than legislative strategy.
Trump’s insistence on making the SAVE America Act the party’s top priority has energized hard-line conservatives, who responded by threatening to block key legislation in the House. Republican leaders were forced to postpone planned votes, lacking the support needed to move forward.
The president’s actions have left many lawmakers from both parties stunned, viewing his moves as undermining Republican efforts to maintain congressional majorities and address pressing issues for voters. Trump’s repeated false claims about the urgency and viability of his voting bill, coupled with his personal attacks on fellow Republicans, have thrown the party’s legislative agenda into disarray just ahead of the Fourth of July recess.
Conclusion
President Trump’s abrupt cancellation of a major housing bill signing and his renewed push for restrictive voting legislation—despite clear opposition within his own party—have deepened divisions among Republicans and stalled their legislative agenda. His pattern of dismissing bipartisan achievements, attacking GOP senators, and making unsupported claims about election integrity continues to fuel chaos on Capitol Hill, raising questions about the party’s ability to govern effectively as the midterm elections approach.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/24/us/politics/trump-senate-republicans-meeting.html